Hung On

Glendora, CA -- The Citrus College Baseball team built up a big early lead against visiting Ventura College on Tuesday afternoon and hung on. The Owls led 11-3 headed into the seventh inning, but just held off the oncoming Pirates in a 11-10 victory.

Ventura got on the board first, scoring on starting pitcher and freshman Steve Mendoza (1-2) thanks to a hustle play, when their runner on second scored on a groundout to shortstop by going on contact and not stopping until he reached home.

Citrus wouldn't put themselves on the board until the next inning, but when they got on they did so in a big way. The Owls erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the second, as sophomore Michael Bradley drove in three RBI's through two at bats. Freshman Aaron Torres drove in two more, while Sophomore Johnathon Reynoso and Nathan Virgen along with freshman Taylor Grace accounted for the other RBI's in the inning. In the bottom of the third, freshman Troy Resch extended the lead to 9-1 thanks to an RBI groundout that scored Torres.

The Pirates would come back in the top of the sixth with a pair of scores, but the Owls answered right back in the bottom half of the inning scoring twice more when freshman Aaron Torres laced a two RBI single to right-center field to make it 11-3.

After that, the Owls stop scoring runs, and the Pirates made a run. Ventura scored two more in the seventh, and three in the top of the eighth to make it 11-8 headed into the ninth. In the top of the ninth, Ventura threatened again. The Pirates loaded the bases up with no outs.

Freshman Conlan McKenzie, who started out the ninth, hunkered down and got a strike out swinging and the next batter to hit the ball to third base allowing the Owls to get the runner out at home. In the next at bat though, McKenzie gave up a two RBI double to left-center that made it 11-10. Mackenzie didn't panic, and got the final batter to strike out swinging preserving the win and earning his second save of the year.

At the plate, Torres ruled the day going 3 for 5 with 4 RBI's and two runs scored. Torres also swiped three bags on the day. Virgen was 4 for 5 with a pair of runs scored and an RBI. Sophomore Michael Bradley was 3 for 4 with three RBI's and a run, while freshman Taylor Grace rounded out the superlatives by 3 for 5 with three runs scored and an RBI. On the hill, Mendoza who had an ERA under two before the game started, and yet no wins on the year, got his first win of the year. Mendoza was sterling in his first five innings of work, giving up just one hit.

With the win, the Owls move to 7-6 on the year. Citrus will take the rest of the week off before beginning WSC South play on Tuesday when they travel to West Los Angeles College for a 2:00 PM tilt.